Winemaker Notes
The Live Oak was planted in 1885 by Italian immigrants. This vineyard is known for its massive concentration, silken texture and signature core of luscious raspberry to boysenberry fruit.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
Bold and spicy, this high-octane wine starts with salt and pepper aromas, and delivers intense black-pepper and black-cherry flavors on a firm palate bolstered by fine-grained tannins. Winemaker Matt Cline included 11% Petite Sirah, 9% Carignan and 2% Black Malvoisie in the blend.
Unapologetically bold, spice-driven and jammy, Zinfandel has secured its title as the darling of California vintners by adapting well to the state's diverse microclimates and landscapes. Born in Croatia, it later made its way to southern Italy where it was named Primitivo. Fortunately, the imperial nursery of Vienna catalogued specimens of the vine, and it later made its way to New England in 1829. Parading the true American spirit, Zinfandel found a new home in California during the Gold Rush of 1849. Somm Secret—California's ancient vines of Zinfandel are those that survived the neglect of Prohibition; today these vines produce the most concentrated, ethereal and complex examples.
A large Northern California appellation centered on the San Francisco Bay Area, the San Francisco Bay AVA falls within the larger Central Coast AVA. The smaller appellations of Livermore Valley, Pacheco Pass, San Ysidro District and Santa Clara Valley AVAs fall within the San Francisco Bay boundaries, and all produce high-quality Central Coast wines.